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Simone De Beauvoir Quotes

96 Badass Simone De Beauvoir Quotes That Will Inspire You

Famous As: French Existentialist Philosopher, Writer, Social Theorist, and Feminist Activist

Born On: January 9, 1908

Died On: April 14, 1986

Born In: Paris, France

Died At Age: 78

The 'Mother of Modern Feminism', Simone de Beauvoir was an extraordinary intellectual, French writer, political activists and social theorist. Her life exemplified the emergence of female-centric revolutionary ideas and struggle for social structure free from patriarchal ideas. She laid down a political roadmap for reinvention and polarization of the society. Being extremely intelligent for her age, Simone completed her graduation at the delicate age of 17 and earned her advanced degree when she was just 19. She was the youngest person to achieve an aggregation in philosophy who scored second highest marks in this test. Simone, the 'lady of letters' wrote on popularized social taboos like politics, morality, gender theory, sexuality, philosophy, literary criticism and existentialism. Along with her partner Jean-Paul Sarte, this legendary intellectual wrote several novels, memoirs, magazines and columns. Before her death, she had produced countless essays and 20 ground-breaking books. Her best works include 'The Second Sex', 'She Came to Say' and 'The Ethics of Ambiguity'. Simone's autography 'The Mandarins' that beautifully captures her life struggles brought her France's highest literary Honor. Throughout her life, de Beauvoir lived a controversial but star-like life, meeting foreign dignitaries and getting followed by the paparazzi. A headstrong person with clear-cut ideologies, Simone is an inspiration for modern-day women. Her thoughts and quotes reflect her intellectualism. We have gathered together Simone de Beauvoir's most thought-provoking quotes. Presenting a collection of Simone de Beauvoir's quotes excerpted from her work and life.

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She was ready to deny the existence of space and time rather than admit that love might not be eternal.

She was ready to deny the existence of space and time rather than admit that love might not be eternal.
Love Time
Simone de Beauvoir

I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. I want this adventure that is the context of my life to go on without end.

I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. I want this adventure that is the context of my life to go on without end.
Life I
Simone de Beauvoir

I am too intelligent, too demanding, and too resourceful for anyone to be able to take charge of me entirely. No one knows me or loves me completely. I have only myself

I am too intelligent, too demanding, and too resourceful for anyone to be able to take charge of me entirely. No one knows me or loves me completely. I have only myself
Me I
Simone de Beauvoir

One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others.

One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others.
Life
Simone de Beauvoir

One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.

One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.
Simone de Beauvoir

When I was a child, when I was an adolescent, books saved me from despair: that convinced me that culture was the highest of values[...].

When I was a child, when I was an adolescent, books saved me from despair: that convinced me that culture was the highest of values[...].
Me Culture Books I
Simone de Beauvoir

In itself, homosexuality is as limiting as heterosexuality: the ideal should be to be capable of loving a woman or a man; either, a human being, without feeling fear, restraint, or obligation.

In itself, homosexuality is as limiting as heterosexuality: the ideal should be to be capable of loving a woman or a man; either, a human being, without feeling fear, restraint, or obligation.
Fear
Simone de Beauvoir

That's what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing.

That's what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing.
You I
Simone de Beauvoir

A man attaches himself to woman -- not to enjoy her, but to enjoy himself.

A man attaches himself to woman -- not to enjoy her, but to enjoy himself.
Simone de Beauvoir

One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, and compassion

One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, and compassion
Life Love
Simone de Beauvoir

To lose confidence in one’s body is to lose confidence in oneself.

To lose confidence in one’s body is to lose confidence in oneself.
Simone de Beauvoir

What an odd thing a diary is: the things you omit are more important than those you put in.

What an odd thing a diary is: the things you omit are more important than those you put in.
You
Simone de Beauvoir

Man is defined as a human being and a woman as a female — whenever she behaves as a human being she is said to imitate the male.

Man is defined as a human being and a woman as a female — whenever she behaves as a human being she is said to imitate the male.
Simone de Beauvoir

I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth - and truth rewarded me.

I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth - and truth rewarded me.
Me Love I
Simone de Beauvoir

If you live long enough, you'll see that every victory turns into a defeat.

If you live long enough, you'll see that every victory turns into a defeat.
You
Simone de Beauvoir

Few tasks are more like the torture of Sisyphus than housework, with its endless repetition: the clean becomes soiled, the soiled is made clean, over and over, day after day.

Few tasks are more like the torture of Sisyphus than housework, with its endless repetition: the clean becomes soiled, the soiled is made clean, over and over, day after day.
Like
Simone de Beauvoir

All oppression creates a state of war. And this is no exception.

All oppression creates a state of war. And this is no exception.
War
Simone de Beauvoir

The body is not a thing, it is a situation: it is our grasp on the world and our sketch of our project

The body is not a thing, it is a situation: it is our grasp on the world and our sketch of our project
Simone de Beauvoir

No one is more arrogant toward women, more aggressive or scornful, than the man who is anxious about his virility.

No one is more arrogant toward women, more aggressive or scornful, than the man who is anxious about his virility.
Women
Simone de Beauvoir

I was made for another planet altogether. I mistook the way.

I was made for another planet altogether. I mistook the way.
I
Simone de Beauvoir

I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom.

I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom.
Life I
Simone de Beauvoir

Two separate beings, in different circumstances, face to face in freedom and seeking justification of their existence through one another, will always live an adventure full of risk and promise.

Two separate beings, in different circumstances, face to face in freedom and seeking justification of their existence through one another, will always live an adventure full of risk and promise." (p. 248)
Will
Simone de Beauvoir

Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with absolute truth.

Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with absolute truth.
Like
Simone de Beauvoir

She would never change, but one day at the touch of a fingertip she would fall to dust.

She would never change, but one day at the touch of a fingertip she would fall to dust.
Change Never
Simone de Beauvoir

Capabilities are clearly manifested only when they have been realized.

Capabilities are clearly manifested only when they have been realized.
Simone de Beauvoir

It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for living.

It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for living.
Living
Simone de Beauvoir

Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay.

Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay.
Life Change Future
Simone de Beauvoir

Sex pleasure in women is a kind of magic spell; it demands complete abandon; if words or movements oppose the magic of caresses, the spell is broken.

Sex pleasure in women is a kind of magic spell; it demands complete abandon; if words or movements oppose the magic of caresses, the spell is broken.
Women
Simone de Beauvoir

Fathers never have exactly the daughters they want because they invent a notion a them that the daughters have to conform to.

Fathers never have exactly the daughters they want because they invent a notion a them that the daughters have to conform to.
Never
Simone de Beauvoir